11 Ways 'Game Of Thrones' Arya Stark Is A Feminist Hero

If one thing can be said about the female characters of Game of Thrones it is that for the most part they are all very strong women who don't take anyone's sh*t. (Or, in Sansa's case, learn over the course of the seasons not to take anyone's sh*t). And while Maisie Williams, the actor who plays Arya Stark from the series, claimed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that she doesn't believe Arya is a feminist because "we should stop calling feminists 'feminists' and just start calling people who aren’t feminist 'sexist' and then everyone else is just a human. You are either a normal person or a sexist" — it can't be denied that her character upholds the ideals of feminism.

Arya Stark doesn't play by or conform to the gender rules of her sexist society. She sees herself as a person, not just a lady or just a girl. She does what she wants regardless of whether or not it's what girls are supposed to do. Whether she knows it or not, Arya Stark is a feminist character. So here are 11 ways Arya proves that she is a feminist, even though feminism doesn't really exist in The Seven Kingdoms.. according to the actor who plays Arya.

4. She Named Her Sword Needle

5. Her Kill List Isn't Gender Exclusive

Arya doesn't care if you're a man, woman, or Hound. If you have messed with her or her family you make it on the list of names she repeats over and over again before sleep. These are the people she has, or will, kill.

6. She Admired Brienne of Tarth

Although Brienne wanted Arya to come with her, so she could keep her oath to Arya's mother, Arya declined. However, Arya didn't Brienne, clad in a suit of armor, as someone to be laughed at. She recognized Brienne's skill, and that her skill was far more important than her beauty.

9. She Renounces The Role Society Puts Her In

10. She Avoids All Roles

She understands that titles and personhood is just smoke and mirrors. Admittedly, she goes on her mission to become a Faceless Man as a means of killing the people on her kill list, but the feminist in her doesn't mind being no one.